Potrillo Mountains Wilderness
Extinct volcanoes, black lava fields, and mile after mile of desert grassland combine in the Potrillo Mountains Wilderness, New Mexico’s 4th largest Wilderness. These mountains are formed by a series of volcanic cinder cones with small sand dunes, playas, and lava fields in-between. The vegetation consists of desert grasses and shrubs. Indian Basin, a natural depression at the southwest end of the West Potrillo Mountains, fills with water during the rainy season providing a temporary pond for ducks. Wintering raptors are found in high numbers due to a high small mammal prey base. Evidence of pre-Columbian Indian habitation exists in caves in the Potrillo Mountains.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management |
| State | New Mexico |
| Size | 105,085 acres |
| Designated | 2019, by Congress |
| Center point | 31.99° N, 107.10° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 28) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
Guidebooks for New Mexico
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Potrillo Mountains Wilderness?
105,085 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Potrillo Mountains Wilderness?
The Bureau of Land Management.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Potrillo Mountains Wilderness in?
New Mexico.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Potrillo Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2019.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Potrillo Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 31.988° N, 107.102° W. Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail is 22 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Potrillo Mountains Wilderness?
Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail (22 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.